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Dormouse

Origin: Perh. Fr. F. Dormir to sleep (Prov. E. Dorm to doze) _ E. Mouse; or perh. Changed fr. F. Dormeuse, fem, a sleeper, though not found in the sense of a dormouse.

(Science: zoology) a small European rodent of the genus Myoxus, of several species. They live in trees and feed on nuts, acorns, etc.; so called because they are usually torpid in winter.